Knife for paper converting machines



Septo, 1941. D M FEURT 2,257,336

l KNIFE FOR PAPER CONVERTING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. l2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. DONALD M FEL/RT Sept. 30, 1941. D, M FEURT 2,257,336

KNIFE FOR PAPER CONVERTIG MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jia-5.3.

. INVENTOR. Do/vnLo M FEU/27' ATTORNEYS.

B. 'MMM Patented Sept. 30, 1941 KNIFE FOR PAPER CONVERTING MACHINES Donald M. Feurt, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Consolidated` Cover Co.,

San Francisco,

Calif., a corporation of California Original application February 12, 1940, Serial No. 318,471. Divided and "this application March 26, 194,1, Serial No. 385,256

Claims.

My invention relates to a knife for paper converting machines, and more particularly adapted to machines which die-cut and re-wind predetermined amounts of paper on individual rolls, from a parent roll. The knife of my invention is `especially desirable for high speed operation on lightweight paper. This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 318,471, filed February 12, 1940.

Among the objects of my invention are: To provide, in a paper converting machine, a means and method of readily changing the di'- mension of the cut-oli bonds; to provide a readily adjustable cut-off knife, and to provide a simple and easily operated means for mounting a cut-01T knife in a cut-oli roll.

My invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of specific apparatus embodying `and utilizing my novel method. It is therefore to be understood that my method is applicable to other: apparatus, and that I do not limit myself, in any way, to the apparatus of the present application, as I may adopt various other apparatus embodiments, utilizing the method, within the scope of the appended claims.

Y In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a paper converting machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a topplan View of the male die roll showing a compound cut-off knife claimed in this application.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional View of the die roll shown; in Fig.` 3, showing the sectional `details of the compoundcut-oi knife.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the compoun cut-off knife.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentarydiagrammatic views showing the operation of the break-oli of the individual rolls from the paper line and the action of the delivery plate.

In` the convertingof paper from a large uncut parent roll to individual rolls of definite length, when the paper is partially cut to form transverse cuts with bonds left therebetween, high speed operation is greatly desired in order that commercial production may be feasible. Much of the paper used, for example, for thin paper towelsor the even thinner toilet seat `covers, is so thin that high speed operation requires complete coordination of forces and exact atten;

tion to details which will at all times tend to prevent stoppages due to breaking of the paper with subsequent piling up of paper on the machine rolls by being carried around over unwanted paths. The fact that the paper, after the cut-olf cuts have been made therein, is held together only by a few3very Weak break-olf bonds, also requires that `the path of the paper from the 'die rolls to the re-winding rolls shall be properly coordinated to prevent unwanted breakage during the re-winding operation.

My invention is broadly concerned with the coordination of forces and the positioning of structures so that thin paper such as, for example, an uncalendered, twelve pound,` semi-crepe paper from two to three thousandths of an inch thick, can be die-cut to leave break-off bonds therein and re-wound upon individual rolls at the rate, for example, of eleven hundred and twenty-live feet per minute, Withan output production of twohundred individual rolls per hour. The stopping and starting of the machine for each individual roll must be so controlled that no unwanted breakages occur, and so that after release of one individual roll from the paper line the paper will remain in a position'to be at-` tached to the next individual roll. l It is believed that the advantages and details of `my invention may be more fully understood by direct reference to the drawings, which show one manner in which` my invention has been adapted to machines of commercial speed and productivity.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 for the general setup of the machine, a pair of upright frame members lposition a female die roll 2 in proper bearings, this die roll being driven from outside the frame by belt 3 from a motor 4 through a clutch (not shown). Immediately above the female die roll 2 is a male die roll` 5, and onopposite sides of the female Vdie roll are positioned an output felt roll 6 and an input felt roll l. Male die roll 5 and felt rolls (i` and l are driven from the female die roll by gears 9. Felt rolls 6 and l, however, rotate in bearing blocks I0 slidable in recesses Il in frame members I and are forced against the female die roll 2- by springs l2, the tension of which maybe adjusted by knobs I4. These springs prevent damage in paper jams, and also prevent crushing of the operators fm- Agers if they should get caught.` Female die roll 2 is provided with a cut-olf knife cavity `I5 into which enters a composite cut-olf knife IB, to be described later. Obviously, if other die-cutting operations other than that accomplished by the of paper, as isv customary in the art. The paper is led from the parent roll around a dancing roll 22 swinging on Y a vertically extending' arm l23 pivoted to the lower portion of, the fija'iiie. J t Dancing roll 22 is held in forward position by a e weight 24 Connected to the Vdancing roll by cord 25, the `cord 25 being of suclll'engtll'that when f' the slack in the paper passing varciund dancing r roll 22 is completely taken up, spring 26 on Weight 24 will bear against fixed springf boss" 21 l so that the paper will always,Y have the weight tensin.I thereon and 4a'tthe loop "size willl have' in addition, greater' tension due te spring, is. The' pafei' uien vpasses: over guide reil'` 3U and' between 'feltel'l land female die ifo-limi.. ThepaperV `tlleri carried around die roll andbetween `'felt roll 6 and the female` die roll 2, and from there onto delivery plate3l. This delivery plate and the functionV thereof'will be 4leygllained later. 1 1 l Y On the front of the machineis mounted 4a rotating re-wind chuck carrier 32 carrying three Yre-wind chucks son that the individualY roll cores may bemounted thereon and rotated one at a time to receivethe paper coming out of the machine.l rrIfhe chuck carrier is rotatable von roll carrier bracket 34 so that one chuck withuroll v`form the cut-off knife of a single piece, with interruptions to give uncut bonds, preferably adjustably attached to the male die roll. I have found, however, that in spite of the eiliciency of modern paper making machinery, that paper as supplied in the parent rolls from paper manufacturers will vary slightly in thickness and strength in different rolls an-d in different lots.

I therefore have found it highly advantageous to be able to yquickly and accurately change the size ofthe bonds left between the individual paper units'. I have accomplished this by ing the cut-olf knife I6 in two halves, a frorit halfl a and' a rear half [6b. kliront-,half la isfpiovid'ed with a single bevel 60 and top teeth 5i, and is fastened directly to the side' ofknife cavity 32 in the parent roll by screws' E4;` Rear half |55 of the knife is also Al'jivded witha single bevel 65 and top teeth 66, but is rhointe on a knife block 61 sliclalle i'ri recess 62 and l'ield therein by iset screws 69. Both lialfknife' 'l6a and. ISlb are provided with teeth interruptions oi' core ,3 5 therein, at a time, will bein a position to receive paper from lthe die rolls. TheY next Ichuck 36 willl carry acore moistened by contact Y with moistening roll 3,1 dipping into asource of liquid', and the third chuck 39 will be in a positionfor the operator to insert acore therein after he hasrelnoved a full re-wound individual roll therefrom.- -I prefer to friction-drive the in dividualQroll chuck Vcarrying the core then receiving paper from the machine, this drive being vrelatively light andbeing over-driven to wind the paper thereon at both empty arid full conditionslwitho'ut slack. f

While manlypaper converting machines utilize anautomatic. stop operative after a certain amount of paper has been Wound on the individual rolls,`an`d I may desire to utilize such an automatic stop; since sll'chstopis nopart of the present-invention I have merely showna f'o'ot control. Foot pedal G operates, through rod 4I, a clutch` (not shown) coupling the-female vdie rolleto the lmotore-beltv 3. The clutch pedal is engaged by clutch-spring e2, and clutch pedal 46 also operates-brake'rodll whichirl turn eo-V incidentally operates, through bell-crank-45, a parenty roll brake 46 and a female die roll brake 41. I=al`so prefer toA provide each-brake with adjustmentserews 49. Tension en parentali brake it may also be adjusted by hand vw'l'leelEil through spring 5lr so lthat the braking power on the` rolls may "be occasionally radjusted `during the eliange insiz'e 'of the parent roll; V@lovi'eusly. sucl'laifl adjustment couldbe made Vau'to'rilatie in accordance with Vthe sizeof .the parent roll, but

. I have fou-nd that usiich coordination is' not at all necessary, to fthevhiglh jspeed'operat-ion of the de,e vicegl'du'e-'to the efficient `operation of thedancing fell 22.

biene notches le 'preferably of the saine width, enel wnerltnes'e 'notches are registered thev'v'idest bend is obtained. 1f, however; the knife naif i si is moved laterally with respect to Vfront half H, then the bond becomesV effectively narrower due yte the advance of one edge of knife ist toward the other edge of knife I as shown in I'ig..Vr 5 by eifsetlLrth.singleprojecting edge cutting the paper. Thus,A I am 'able' to very quickly Vchangethe bond dimension in accordance vwith the type of paper being handled by the machine, a procedure which is impossible with the'older A type of single knife customarily used for cut-ofi'.

I have also found that the paper, after the cut-off bonds have been formed, may 'befcontrolled electrically to prevent one of the greatest disadvantages of a converting machine, namely, the loss of controlV of thepaper end -afterfthe individual `rolls have been separated therefrom. For example, it is quite a frequent occurrence Yto havevr the output felt roller 6 Ybecome*electrified to such an extent thatv the paper will stick to, it,

` and upon starting of the machine `the paperwill wrap around roller. 6 Aand cause; a .jani .which takes time to clear.LTl-ii's is 'a fieqilentoccurrenee even when a specialloutput roller is utilizedJl-,oV direct the paper-onto'theindividualrov -as the paper end is not securely held after-.br -ff of 1r reta-laielleontfel of the freepeper enuty providing-.delivery plete el,- wilien prefere-elvis Vshaped to have a dual anglenamely; aniiiplit angleV T6 ta'ngettothe periphery of a" iilled-fore 'on which: the paper immediately leaving felt rolle er'B 'always bears as shown'in 6 andfifa'nd output angle Tl which is an angle tangeltt the periphery of thefc'ore which directs the papel plate 3| thus preventing slack between plate 3| and roller E. i In order to more fully understand they operation of the converterI-will now follow through acomplete operational sequence which will .describe the action of the brakes, the die rolls, and 4the delivery plate 3|. 1

Theparent roll having been placed in position with the paper threaded between felt rolls 6 and 1 `and laid on output plate3l, the individual rre,- wind chucks 35, 36 and 39 are filled, and it may be assumed that the empty core 35 presented to the end of the paper has been ,wet by previous contact with the moistening roller 31. The end of the thin paper is then wrapped around the empty core 35 and sticks thereto. The operator of the machine then depresses clutch pedal 48 which simultaneously engages the clutch connecting the motor with the female die roll and eases oif the brakes on both the female die roll and the parent roll. The paper is then wound through the machine at an increasing speed and the inertia of the parent roll 2| is absorbed by the change in position of the dancing roll under control of weight 24 and spring 26 until the machine is running at its full speed, such as, for example, eleven hundred and twenty-five feet of paper per minute.

As the cut-off knife I6 makes each revolution, cuts joined by bonds are made between each individual paper unit, the length of the unit of course being controlled by the diameter of the die rolls. After a predetermined number of units have been wound upon empty roll 39 the machine is either tripped automatically as heretofore described, or directly by the operator who can determine the number of units by watching a counter, and the operator then stops the machine by releasing the clutch pedal. The stopping is of course accomplished quickly by the coordinate release of the clutch and application of brakes on both parent roll and die roll, and the nal stopping position is controlled by the operator so that a cut is preferably on the periphery of the lled individual roll. This position is shown in Fig. 6, and it will be noticed that when the machine is stopped in this position that the next cut 80 has been made prior to the entrance of the paper between output felt roll 6 and female die roll 2, thus tightly gripping the individual paper unit 8|. It will also be noted that the diameter of the individual re-wound roll 15 is suchithat the cut ahead of the one now on the surface of the roll, is buried in the roll. Thus, to

break off the individual roll, all the operator has to do is to sharply rotate full `roll 15, thus breaking the roll loose to form a gap 82 at the cut facing him. The re-wind chuck carrier 32 is then rotated to bring a fresh core 35 into place and the full roll into position as indicated by rewindchuck 39, where it may be taken out and a new roll substituted as the core 35 is being filled.

A most important feature, however, of the operation of the delivery plate 3| is that friction of the paper in running over this plate highly electrifies the paper so that when full re-wound roll 'I5 is rotatedout of the way and the fresh core 35 rotated into place, the latter being moistened, the paper is strongly attracted to angular portion which moves the end of the paper into contact with moistened core 35, where the paper immediately sticks, ready for the next re-winding operation of the machine.

A still further advantage, however, is gained by theelectrication of the paper on plate 3|, and that is that the paper sticks tightly at all times to angular portion 71 and thus any slackA is prevented from occurring between plate v3| and felt roller E during the time that the paper is free while rolls are being changed. This gripping of the paper by plate 3| prevents pile-up of paper on felt roll 6 and enables a high speed operation of the device with `an output, for example, of two hundred individual rolls per hour if desired, and more-if the rolls are smaller.

Thus, the delivery plate 3| does two things; it holds the paper tightly during the time `the end is`free, and the angular portion |'l directs the paper, even against drafts, onto the unfilled core While I have described the break-01T operation at point 82 on the full roll 'I5 as being accomplished by hand, it is obvious that the slight additional movement necessary may be supplied by an additional source of power frictionally applied to the re-wind chuck after the machine has reached its stop, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to hand rotation alone. Hand operation is, however, highly satisfactory because the operator is at that time grasping the full roll to move it out of the way and to substitute the new one for it, and the break-01T twist to the roll may be given at the beginning of this grasping movement without loss of time.

I have also found that I may control the amountof electrication of the paper by varying the material of which delivery plate 3| is made. I have, for example, found that if the electrication in certain periods of the year, due to atmospheric conditions, becomesv so high as to apply an appreciable drag on the paper during the re-winding operation, that I may utilize, for example, -a zinc plate and obtain a lesser amount of electriiication. I have found, however, that polished steel plates are in general highly satisfactory.

Thus, I have provided a paper converter which is capable of extreme high speed Without the usual tendencies to jam paper around output rollers, and in which a special knife has been provided which will allow the cut-off bonds to be varied in accordance with the requirements of the paper being handled.

I claim:

1. In a paper converting machine having die rolls, a knife for making transverse cuts including uncut bonds in a paper strip moving between said die rolls, comprising a transverse knife member having a single bevel and a cutting edge interrupted by bond producing notches, and a second knife member having a single bevel and a cutting edge interrupted by bond producing notches, said knife members being mounted with their flat sides touching and with bond notches at least in partial registry, on one of said die rolls.

2. In a. paper converting machine having die rolls, a knife for making transverse cuts including uncut bonds in a paper strip moving between said die rolls, comprising a transverse knife member having a single bevel and a cutting edge interrupted by bond producing notches, a second knife member having a single bevel and a cutting edge interrupted by bond producing notches, said knife members being mounted with their flat sides touching and with bond. notches at least in partial registry, on one of said die rolls, said knife members being relatively movable to change the size of the bonds.

3. Apparatus in .accordance with claim 1'., wherein one of said knife members is non-adjustab'ly xed tol one of said Vdie rolls and the other knife .member is adjustably fixedto said same die roll.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said die rolls is provided Withv a recess extending along said die roll and. wherein one of said knives! forms at least a portion of an Uutwardly extending Wall of said recess and wherein ai block is provided fitting said recess, said other knife forming an outwardly extending wall of said block, said block andv second knife being slidable along said recessrwith said zeeman knives in face contact, with their edges adjacent, and means for locking said block to said roll in a. predetermined position.v

5. A knife for making cuts in Vpaper interrupted. by uncut bonds comprising` a knife member having a single bevel and a cutting edge in terrupted by bond producing notches, a second knife lhaving a single bevel and a cutting edge interrupted by a; cutting edge interrupted by bonding notches, and means for holding said knives together with their edges coextensive and adjacent and withV their bonding notches at least in partial registry.

DONALD M. FEURT. 

